Media Releases

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell tabled the Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2010-11 (VGIAR) in State Parliament today.

“The VGIAR delivers on the Premier’s commitment to accountability and transparency in delivering on the Victorian Government’s bi-partisan commitment for closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage in Victoria,” Mrs Powell said.

“Understanding where progress is being made, or where it is at a standstill or going backwards, is critical to the design of policy and programs to tackle Indigenous disadvantage.

“The Report indicates mixed progress, and illustrates that closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Victorians requires a long-term commitment and a strong and productive partnership between the Government, Indigenous communities and the wider Victorian community.

“VGIAR 2010-11 indicates that the vital area of early childhood education is showing significantly improved outcomes.

“The number of Indigenous three-year-olds enrolled in kindergarten more than trebled between 2008 and 2011 while the number of four- year-olds enrolled increased from 525 to 742 in the same period.

“The increases participation in early childhood education should result in greater school completion rates and improved literacy and numeracy outcomes,” Mrs Powell said.

The Report identifies three areas of major concern, with Victoria falling behind the national averages for Indigenous Australians in smoking rates, school retention rates to Year 10 and the over-representation of Indigenous kids in the child protection system.

The Victorian Coalition Government has established the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry, launched Wayaperri – a leadership and training initiative for young Indigenous Victorians, invested an additional $2.2 million for governance training, reinstated funding to Reconciliation Victoria and established Australia’s first Indigenous Honour Roll to help tackle entrenched disadvantage.

“The Victorian Government is committed to Closing the Gap,” Mrs Powell said.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell has reaffirmed the Victorian Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians.

“Almost a year ago the Premier, Deputy Premier, myself and our Opposition counterparts re-committed the Victorian Government to the Closing the Gap agenda by collectively signing the Closing the Gap Statement of Intent,” Mrs Powell said.

“Since coming to office the Victorian Coalition Government has driven a whole of government and bi-partisan approach to Closing the Gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians.

“The Coalition Government has initiated the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry, launched Wayaperri, a leadership and training initiative for young Indigenous Victorians, invested an additional $2.2
million for governance training, reinstated funding to Reconciliation Victoria and established Australia’s first Indigenous Honour Roll.

“Importantly we have also taken time to listen and to learn from the Aboriginal community in Victoria.

“Yesterday I hosted a roundtable lunch with Indigenous women in Melbourne to seek their understanding of the complex issues that have led to the very high over representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system.

“Today I met with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at the La Trobe University campus in Shepparton to discuss their collective response to Closing the Gap,” Mrs Powell said.

Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge today addressed the Aboriginal Youth Forum, which oversees a partnership between the government and the Aboriginal community to improve justice outcomes for Victorian Aboriginal people.

Also today the Minister for Health David Davis launched the - Health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Victorians: Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Supplementary Report.

“The information in this report reinforces the Victorian Government’s determination to adopt a whole-of-government approach with a focus on services that work, value for money and engagement with Aboriginal people and communities,” Mrs Powell said.

“The Victorian Government understands that generations of Indigenous disadvantage has created the gap in our society and closing it will require a sustained, informed and rigorous policy commitment from the whole of government.”

The Victorian Government will release a strengthened Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework, an Indigenous health strategy and an Indigenous Economic Development and Participation Strategy later this year.

Three services in the Goulburn Valley will deliver the Victorian Coalition Government’s new Cradle to Kinder service, State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell announced today.

‘Cradle to Kinder’ is a new intensive parenting support program for vulnerable young mothers and their children, and will receive State Government funding of more than $16 million over four years.

Goulburn Valley Family Care Inc and The Bridge Youth Service will partner together to deliver the service, and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative will provide an additional Aboriginal-specific service.

“I am pleased this new, valuable service for young mothers and their children will be operating in Greater Shepparton,” Mrs Powell said.

“There are a large number of mothers aged under 25 in this area and those who need assistance with their baby’s welfare can access about 700 hours of support from pregnancy until the child is four years old.”

“The program can also put parents and their children in touch with other local service providers to ensure all their needs are being met.”

Community Services Minister Mary Woolridge said the program would help vulnerable children get the best start in life by improving their health, safety and development, strengthening the parent-child bond and assisting parents to build their confidence and skills in parenting their children.

Member for Shepparton and Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell was pleased to present 11 year old Bree Logan of Shepparton with the Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation’s Summer Reading Club competition trophy.

The competition stems from a Children’s Program titled the Summer Reading Club and the theme for 2011-2012 was “the amazing read”. This program is a national campaign to promote libraries and reading throughout the school holiday period.

Mrs Powell said to be selected out of over 200 entries is a major achievement for Bree.

“Her colouring of the ‘Wild Thing’ showed a great deal of talent, care and effort,” Mrs Powell said.

“Judging by the number of entries received it’s a very popular school holiday program.”

GVRLC has over 500 members aged between 1 and 17 who were eligible to enter the colouring competition through the libraries which form part of GVRLC within the municipalities of the Greater City of Shepparton, Moira and Strathbogie Shires.

Rumbalara will be one of two Aboriginal Services in the Hume region to share in nearly $1 million to support vulnerable aboriginal children and their families in the Hume region, Member for Shepparton and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell said today.

Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge announced today for the first time, Aboriginal services across Victoria will be funded to provide both therapeutic out of home care for Aboriginal children who have been abused and/or neglected and support for young Aboriginal people transitioning from state care to independent living.

Mrs Powell said she has been pleased to work closely with the Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge on the importance of supporting vulnerable Aboriginal children and families.

“Sadly, child protection substantiations for indigenous children are unacceptably high with rates 10 times higher than for non-Indigenous children.

“The funding provided to Rumbalara is over four years and will enable them to provide much needed support to Aboriginal families and their children.

“This new approach provides local support for Aboriginal young people in times of great need which previously could only be accessed via mainstream services.

"The Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children’s Inquiry will report to government shortly and I look forward to continuing to work with Minister Wooldridge to implement the recommendations and improve protection and support of Aboriginal children,” Mrs Powell said.

Funding will also go towards capacity building and strengthening of the ACCOs and their workforces to enable them to effectively deliver culturally responsive, high quality services to Aboriginal children and families.

Minister Wooldridge said high quality, responsive and culturally appropriate care and support can make a significant difference in young lives and help break the inter-generational cycle of disadvantage.

“By providing direct, specific funding and capacity building support to ACCOs, we recognise that strong and vibrant Aboriginal service providers are a crucial part of our system and help us to best meet the needs of young people who have experienced abuse and neglect,” Ms Wooldridge said.

Member for the Shepparton, Jeanette Powell is encouraging all parents and guardians of school aged children to participate in the Victoria Walks to School Day on Wednesday the 19th of October.

Walk to School Day aims to raise awareness of the need for children to make healthy exercise part of their daily routine to improve their fitness, friendships and help the environment.

Mrs Powell said Walk to School Day is a great way to encourage young people to adopt a more active lifestyle.

“Good habits learned early will have life-long benefits. A love of regular exercise is one of the best habits we can develop,” Mrs Powell said.

“More than 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese, which obviously needs to change and this is a great initiative for that change to begin,” Mrs Powell said.

“Studies show children need a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity a day and by incorporating a walk to school into the daily routine of children we can put them on track to a healthier lifestyle.

“This activity promotes the health benefits of walking and will help create regular walking habits at an early age.

“It will also help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.”

“I encourage all children, parents and carers to participate in this year’s Victoria Walks to School Day and make it another successful day,” Mrs Powell said.

KidsFest has received $5000 from the Coalition Government under the April 2011 round of the Coalition Government’s Country Victoria Events Program (CVEP), The Nationals Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell announced today.

State Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell said this funding will assist the KidsFest Committee to run this very popular family event.

“KidsFest is held at SPC-Ardmona KidsTown Adventure Playground and is the region’s largest annual children’s festival,” Mrs Powell said.

“The festival is aimed at families with children aged between 0-12 years and features entertainment, craft displays and activities, miniature railway and a sideshow alley.

“Regional Events like KidsFest are supported by the Coalition because they not only demonstrate potential for increased economic benefit and visitation, but enhance the region’s tourism strengths and local community identity,” Mrs Powell said.

KidsFest will be held on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September 2011.

Twenty-four regional organisations across Victoria will receive a total of $74,500 under the April 2011 round of CVEP.

Funding through CVEP supports Victorian regional organisations delivering sports, music, visual arts, food and wine, multicultural festival events promoting regional communities throughout Victoria.

The Country Victoria Events Program provides up to $10,000 per event to assist with tourism marketing and event delivery and development. Closing dates for applications for the CVEP are April 1 and October 1 annually.

For more information on CVEP funding for 2011 visit www.visitvictoria.com

Bourchier St Primary School will receive a new hard court on its campus, funded by the State Coalition Government, State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell announced today.

The $40,000 court is being funded as part of a Coalition Government’s commitment to reinstating play areas that were taken away under the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) construction works.

“Under the BER works, playgrounds, car parks and hard courts were taken away from some schools, and the State Government is reinstating many of these areas,” Mrs Powell said.

“Being active and playing team sports is important and facilities are needed in schools for students to participate in physical education so I am pleased Bourchier St Primary School is having its hard court reinstated.”

Bourchier St Primary School is one of 80 schools across the state to benefit from the Coalition’s $5-million project to reinstate hard courts, playgrounds and carparks.

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell is encouraging students across the Shepparton district to embrace a healthier start to the day by celebrating National Ride2School Day on Wednesday 16th March.

Mrs Powell said National Ride2School Day was an important opportunity to promote physical activity as a means of transport which has proven benefits to a child’s health and wellbeing.

“Getting to and from school actively dramatically increases students daily physical activity, which benefits their overall health and helps reduce the risk of obesity and associated help problems,” Mrs Powell said.

“Many kids are being driven relatively short distances to school, trips that are easily ride or walkable, and they’re missing out on a great chance for some exercise.

“I encourage parents to ride with their children so they become familiar with the neighbourhood and can learn about how easy these journeys can be beyond just the event day,” Mrs Powell said.

“Children who develop a healthy, active lifestyle when they are young are much more likely to maintain those habits in adulthood, something that is critical with obesity levels among adult Australians now reaching alarming levels.”

“This is a great opportunity for parents to reinvigorate their child’s journey to school and to address preventable diseases like diabetes and obesity.

Mrs Powell applauded schools across the Shepparton district who are participating in National Ride2School Day today - one of Australia’s largest celebrations of active travel.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and schools participating in the event should be supported and congratulated for their efforts,” Mrs Powell said.

Parents and teachers looking for advice, strategies, tips and further information on active travel – including how to map out the safest route to school - can visit the Ride2School website at www.ride2school.com.au

State Member for Shepparton District, Jeanette Powell has again joined with water safety advocate Laurie Lawrence to spread his water safety message by distributing his Living with Water DVD – a Comprehensive Guide to Water Safety for Under 5’s.

The DVD includes essential information about familiarising children with water, eliminating water hazards, pool fencing, constant supervision of children around water and learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

Mrs Powell said this very popular DVD is free and promotes water safety messages for newborns, crawlers, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

“Due to great demand I have obtained more of these DVD’s to help spread the message on how to keep children safe around water,” Mrs Powell said.

“I am pleased to offer my assistance as water safety is everyone’s responsibility and you never know when you might be in a position to save a life.

“This DVD will help remind parents and carers to be vigilant supervising their children around water and to review the adequacy of safety measures like pool fences.

“Drowning is the greatest cause of accidental death in children under five in Australia.

“Since the year 2000, over three hundred children under 5 years of age have drowned in Australia, this is devastating for parents, carers and families.

“We can change that and with the increased knowledge gained from watching this DVD, we will,” Mrs Powell said.

The Living with Water DVD is available free of charge from Mrs Powell’s Office 5 Vaughan Street Shepparton, phone 58316944.